Name
Simulating the La Martre watershed with a new freeze-thaw model in Raven
Date & Time
Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Description
The permafrost thaw occurring under warming climate conditions is changing the active layer thickness (ALT) in cold regions. The thickening of an active layer changes the hydrology of a landscape. To better characterize permafrost thaw, Devoie and Craig (2020) developed a semi-analytical interface model of permafrost freeze-thaw dynamics. This project implements this model into Raven hydrological modelling framework. The model’s accuracy and prediction capabilities are assessed through modelling the La Martre watershed and compared to a Raven model created without these freeze-thaw dynamics. Field measurements and the model without freeze-thaw dynamics show evidence for increased precipitation throughout the catchment, permafrost thaw increasing groundwater flow in the permeable bedrock aquifer, and the increasing streamflow becoming more sensitive to these changes. This project examines the driving factors of these changes and seeks further understanding of the cumulative effects of climate change, especially permafrost thaw, in this region. The future of this project is an ArcGIS implementation of the interface model and using it to create a process-based map of active layer thickness (ALT) across Canada with the objective to provide projections of the future of ALT and a tool for hydrologists to identify regions of high vulnerability to change.
Location Name
McInnes Room
Full Address
Dalhousie University
Halifax NS
Canada
Session Type
Poster
Abstract ID
204
Speaker Organization
Queen's University
Session Name
H-2
Presenting Author
Sebastian Lingertat